This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
If you were injured in a truck accident in San Clemente, you may be able to recover compensation from more than one party, the driver, the trucking company, a contractor, or a parts manufacturer, because commercial truck cases involve multiple potentially liable defendants and federal safety regulations that ordinary car crashes do not. A Cefali & Cefali truck accident lawyer investigates every source of liability and fights for the full value of your claim. Call (949) 325-7790 for a free consultation, available 24/7. No fee unless we win.
We represent people hurt in collisions with big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles throughout San Clemente and south Orange County, and we handle the full range of truck cases, including:
Truck driver negligence
Truck equipment failures
Loading and unloading accidents
18-wheeler and tractor-trailer accidents
Commercial and delivery vehicle accidents
Where Truck Accidents Happen in San Clemente
San Clemente sits on Interstate 5, the primary goods-movement corridor between the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, Orange County, and San Diego. As the southernmost city in Orange County along the I-5, San Clemente sees heavy commercial-truck traffic passing through on long-haul routes, with frequent congestion near the Avenida Pico, Avenida Vista Hermosa, Camino de Estrella, and Cristianitos Road interchanges, the last of which is the final Orange County exit before the San Diego County line. Trucks also travel local routes like El Camino Real and Avenida Del Mar for deliveries throughout the city.
Because San Clemente has no hospital of its own, seriously injured victims are typically transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, the closest Level II trauma center, or in the most severe cases to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, the county's only Level I trauma center. If your case becomes a lawsuit, it is filed in the Orange County Superior Court Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?
The biggest difference between a truck case and a car case is that several parties can share liability. Identifying all of them often determines whether there is enough insurance coverage to fully compensate a serious injury. Potentially responsible parties include:
The truck driver, for speeding, distraction, impairment, or violating federal hours-of-service limits
The trucking company, responsible for hiring qualified drivers, training them, maintaining its vehicles, and not pushing drivers past legal driving hours
A contractor or separate employer, when the driver was leased or contracted rather than directly employed
A parts or truck manufacturer, when a defective brake, tire, or other component contributed to the crash
A cargo loader or shipper, when an improperly secured or overweight load shifted and caused the driver to lose control
Federal Trucking Regulations
Commercial trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which limits how many hours a driver may be on the road, mandates rest breaks, and requires a valid commercial driver's license (CDL). Carriers must also keep driver logs, maintenance records, and hiring files. When a company puts an unqualified driver behind the wheel, skips required maintenance, or pressures drivers past their hours-of-service limits, those violations are strong evidence of negligence, and they are exactly the records we move quickly to preserve before they can be lost.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Clemente
Driver fatigue, often tied to hours-of-service violations on long I-5 hauls
Speeding or reckless driving for a vehicle that needs far more stopping distance
Distracted driving
Impaired driving
Poor vehicle maintenance, such as worn brakes or tires
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Because of a commercial truck's size and weight, crash injuries tend to be severe and often permanent. The injuries we most commonly handle include:
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Broken bones and crush injuries
Internal injuries and organ damage
Burn injuries
Fatal injuries giving rise to a wrongful death claim
California Law and the Compensation You Can Recover
A few California rules shape every truck accident claim. Under pure comparative negligence (established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co.), you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the crash to file suit. And in cases of extreme recklessness, such as a knowingly unsafe driver or falsified logs, punitive damages may be available under Civil Code section 3294.
Recoverable damages include economic losses (current and future medical bills, lost wages and lost earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation) and non-economic losses (pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life). California places no cap on general damages in an ordinary injury case.
How Cefali & Cefali Handles Your Truck Accident Case
Truck cases are won on evidence that disappears quickly. We move fast to preserve the truck's event data recorder ("black box"), electronic logging and GPS data, and the carrier's driver and maintenance records, sending spoliation letters so that evidence cannot be destroyed. We identify every liable party and insurance policy, work with accident-reconstruction and medical experts to prove fault and value your injuries, handle all negotiation with the trucking company's defense team, and try your case if a fair settlement is not offered. Insurance companies will try to blame you to reduce what they pay; an independent investigation is how we push back. Because we work on contingency, you pay nothing upfront and no fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be held liable in a San Clemente truck accident?
Often more than one party. Depending on the facts, the truck driver, the trucking company, a separate contractor or employer, a parts or truck manufacturer, or the company that loaded the cargo may share liability. Identifying every responsible party matters because it determines how much insurance coverage is available to compensate a serious injury.
What makes a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Truck cases involve federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, commercial insurance policies, and time-sensitive electronic evidence like the truck's black box and driver logs. That evidence can be lost quickly, so it is important to involve an attorney early who can act to preserve it.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in California?
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government entity is involved, you may have as little as six months to file a claim. Missing these deadlines usually ends your right to recover, so it is best to speak with an attorney early.
What if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
You can still recover. California follows pure comparative negligence, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated. If you are found 20 percent at fault on a $100,000 claim, you can still recover $80,000. Trucking companies and their insurers often try to shift blame onto the injured driver, which is why an independent investigation matters.
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win. The fee is a percentage of your recovery, the consultation is free, and if we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
Get Your Free Truck Accident Case Review Today
If you were injured in a truck accident in San Clemente, the trucking company's insurer is already working to limit what it pays, and the evidence that proves your case can disappear fast. Cefali & Cefali investigates every source of liability and fights for the full compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We handle truck accidents across south Orange County, along with car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and wrongful death cases. Call (949) 325-7790 today or contact us for a free case review. No fee unless we win.
Request a Free Consultation
Tell us about your case through our contact form and we will call you back to schedule an appointment. For an immediate response, call us at (949) 325-7790.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
